European heatwave raises excess deaths by 3,700, including 2,025 in France

2026-07-03

Excess deaths rose by a total of 3,700 in France, Belgium and the Netherlands after the heatwave that hit Europe in late June, with a lack of measures such as air conditioning likely contributing to the scale of the toll.

France up by 2,025

Reuters tallied announcements from authorities in the three countries. The figures are provisional, and deaths in Spain also total 1,000. The overall toll across Europe may be even larger.

In France, deaths from June 22 to 28 rose by 2,025 from the previous week, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said on July 3 on French TV channel TF1. The provisional tally covers 60% of death certificates, and the final figure will be examined further.

Deaths at home jumped 90% from the previous week. Vautrin said, 'As a society, we need to make efforts to support people who live alone.'

Heat measures remain a challenge

In late June, temperatures in France topped 40 degrees Celsius in many areas, including Paris. On June 24 and 25, the 24-hour average temperature reached 30 degrees Celsius on each day, and the French weather office identified those two days as the 'hottest days' on record.

Prolonged heatwaves are rare, and measures remain lagging. Only 24% of households have air conditioning, while the installation rate in schools is just 7%. Cooling systems are also inadequate in facilities for the elderly and in hospitals. The heat eased temporarily this week, but concern remains high that another heatwave could hit later in the summer.

Enjoyed this article? Share it with your network!